Shoe stretcher



May 10,1938. .J. VENTOLA 2,116,917

SHOE STRETCHEJR Filed Nov. 9, 1936 INVENTOR 1/1); ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe stretchers.

One of the objects of my invention is the pro vision of a novel shoe stretcher with which a shoe upper can be simultaneously stretched laterally and lengthwise, of with which it may be stretched independently either laterally or lengthwise.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel shoe stretcher which is simple,

cheap to make, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, which is easy to operate, and which is efficient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a top view, partly broken away, of my improved shoe stretcher, shown with the spreader members in the innermost position.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a reduced longitudinal sectional view of my improved shoe stretcher shown in operative engagement with a shoe.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the stretcher member which is used in stretching the shoe upper lengthwise.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

I designates a transverse plate which constitutes bearing means for two spreader members 2 and 3 disposed side by side and adapted for insertion into the toe portion of a shoe for widening the shoe upper rearwardly from the toe.

The rear ends of the spreader members 2 and 3 are respectively provided with two transverse grooves 4 in which are respectively pivotally mounted the end portions of the plate I to which the members 2 and 3 are pivotally connected by parallel pivot pins 5, which pins comprise connecting means by which the spreader members 2 and 3 may be swung laterally outwardly in opposite directions for spreading the shoe upper laterally.

For so forcing the spreader members 2 and 3, there is provided a rod 6 which is rotatably mounted in and extends forwardly and rearwardly through the bearing plate I between the members 2 and 3.

Said rod 6, forwardly from the bearing plate I, is screw threaded from its front end. A nut I is fitted and adapted for travel on said threaded front end portion of the rod 6, when the rod is rotated in the plate I. For holding the rod 6 from longitudinal movement in the bearing plate I, it has fastened on it two collars 8 and 9 respectively bearing against the front and rear edges of the plate I.

The nut 1 is between the spreader members 2 and 3 and is mounted in two grooves I0 respec- 5 tively provided in the inner sides of the members 2 and 3. The bottoms of the grooves I0 increase in depth from the front rearwardly and provide bearing surfaces I I, which diverge rearwardly from each other when the members Zand 3 are 10 in the inner position, shown in Fig. 1. The nut I is adapted to have its opposite edges respectively slidably engage the bearing surfaces I I, when the rod 6 is rotated in a direction such that the nut I will be moved forwardly, which direction will 15 be clockwise, looking toward the left in Fig. l, as the front end portion of the rod 6, as shown is threaded left handed.

When the nut 1 moves forwardly and is engaged with the bearing surfaces I I, it operates as a wedge which forces the spreader members 2 and 3 to swing outwardly at their forward ends, thus laterally stretching the shoe upper I2 at the rear of the toe and forward of the instep.

The rod 6 is provided with a handle I3 by which it may be rotated in either direction.- The rod 6 between the handle I3 and the bearing plate I is threaded oppositely to the threaded front end portion of the rod. Such rear threaded portion has fitted and adaptedfor travel on it a nut 30 I4, which, when the handle I3 is turned clockwise moves the nut I4 rearwardly.

I5 designates a stretcher member having through it a vertical slot I6 which increases downwardly in diameter. The nut I4 is provided with 3 an annular peripheral groove H, the rear end of the nut being circular and smaller in diameter than the front end. The rear end of the nut I4 is insertible through the larger lower end of the slot I6, but is of larger diameter than the upper por- 40 tion of the slot, so that when the nut I4 is inserted into the wider portion of the slot IB and then moved upwardly to the upper end thereof, the stretcher plate or member I5 will be moved forwardly and rearwardly with the nut I4. 45

The stretcher member I5 is adapted to have bearing engagement with the inner front side of the heel portion of the shoe upper, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when operatively engaged with the nut I4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and the 50 handle I3 is turned clockwise, the nut I4 will be moved rearwardly thus forcing the stretcher member I5 rearwardly so as to also force rearwardly the heel portion of the shoe upper, thereby stretching the shoe upper lengthwise. 55

In the operation of my improved shoe stretcher, when it is desired to simultaneously spread and lengthen the shoe upper, the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1, with the spreader members in the inner position, as shown, and the spreader members 2 and 3 are then inserted into the toe portion of the shoe, the nut I being disposed in the grooves I engaged with the bearing surfaces II. The nut I4 is disposed on the rod 6 so as to bring the stretcher member l against the front inner side of the heel'portion of the shoe upper l'2, as shown in Fig. 4.

The handle l3 of the rod 6 is then revolved. clockwise, thus forcing the nut 1 forwardly and the nut l4 rearwardly, whereby the spreader members 2 and 3 are swung laterally outwardly in opposite directions, thus spreading and stretching the shoe upper laterally, and the stretcher member forces the heel portion of the shoe upper rearwardly, thus stretching the shoe upper lengthwise.

If it is desired to spread but not lengthenw. the shoe upper, the stretcher plate- [15: is removed from the nut. I 4', the. latter: being screwed forg wardly out of contact with the; shoe upper. The

rod 6- is then turned so as to move the nut 1" forwardly, thus causing. the spreader members.

Zand 3 to laterally'stretch. the shoe upper.

If it is desired: only to lengtheni the-shoe upper;

i the nut I is unscrewed off the rod 62 at the front end thereof, and. the. nut l4-,. stretcher member I5, and rodv G are operated toforcethe stretcher member l5 rearwardly, thus stretching. the shoe upper lengthwise.

Var-iousmodifications of: my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may. be made without departing from the spirit. of myinven tion.

What I claim is:-

1. In a shoe stretcher, bearing means, two

'spreader members, means connecting said members-to said bearing means bywhich they'arepermitted to move outwardly inopposite directions to spread a shoe,- a rod rotatable in and held from longitudinal movement by said bearing means and having two oppositely; threaded portions, twonuts respectively fitted and adapted for'travel on said portions-when: said rod is rotated relatively to said nuts, one of saidnuts being between and adapted, when moved in one direction, to engage and force said members outwardly in opposite directions, and a stretcher member engageable with and movable forwardly and rearwardly by the other-nut and adapted to engage and force rearwardly the heel portion of the shoe upper.

2. In a shoe stretcher, bearing means, two spreader members, meansconnecting said members to saidbearing means by whiclr they can move laterally in: opposite directions tospreada shoe, a rod rotatable in and held from longitudinal movement by said bearing means and having two oppositely threaded portions, two nuts respectively fitted and adapted for travel on said portions when said rod is rotated relatively to said nuts, one of said nuts being between and adapted, when moved in one direction, to engage and force said members laterally outwardly in opposite directions, and a stretcher member engageable with and movable forwardly and rearwardly by the other nut and adapted to engage and, forcev rearwardly the heel portion of the shoe upp.er;.said rod extending through said stretcher member and having a handle at its rear end by which it is rotated.

3'. In a shoe stretcher, bearing means, two spreader, members pivoted adjacent to their rear ends to. said bearing means so as to be adapted to be swung outwardly laterally from an inner position. andhaving: respectively at their inner sides two bearing surfaces which diverge from eachother-when said members are in said inner position, a rod rotatable in. and held from 1ongitudinal movement by said bearing means and having twooppositely threaded portions; twonuts respectively fitted! and adapted. for travel onsaid portions whensaid rod isrotated relatively tosaid nuts, one. of said nutsbeing between and having sliding. engagement withsaid-bearing surfaces and adapted, when moved in one direction,

to force said. members laterally outwardly to spread theshoe upper,v and a. stretcher member engageable with and movable forwardly andrearwardly by the other. nut and adapted. toengage and force rearwardly the heelv portion of the shoe upper, said rod extending through said stretcher member andhavinga handle at itsz-rear end by which it is rotated.

In a shoe stretcher, two spreader members,

bearing means, means connecting said members to said bearing means by which theyare permitted to move outwardly laterally in opposite directions from aninner position, a rodrotatable in and held from longitudinal movement by saidbearing means andhaving two oppositely threaded portions, one' of: which extends to the front end of said. rod, a nut fitted and adapted for. travel on: and to be unscrewed from said last named portion, another nut fitted and adapted for travel ontheother of said threaded portions,

said first named nut being between and adapted.

when moved: in. one direction, to engage and force said spreader members laterally outwardly in opposite.- directions to spread a shoe upper adapted to be engaged by said members, and a stretcher member having: means. for being releasably engaged and moved forwardly and rearwardly'by-said second namednut and adapted to engage. and. force rearwardly the heel portion of theshoe upper, saidrod" extending through said stretcher member and adapted to be extended over theheel: portion. of the shoe and having: at its rear end a handle by. which it is rotated.

JAMES-VENTOLA'. 

